Automobile fuel pump



Jan. 7, 1930. w. D. BELL 1,742,183

AUTOMOBILE FUEL PUMP Filed June 28. 1 926 IN V EN TOR.

QKLVQZMMA A TTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 7, R930 TENT OFFICE WILLIAM D. BELL, OI COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOP OF ONE-FOURTH TO EDWIN P.

' COBBETT, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO AUTOMOBILE FUEL PUMP Application filed June 28,

My invention relates to an automobile fuel pump. It has to do rimarily with the provision of apparatus w ich is especially adapted to the raising of gasoline from the main tank of an automobile to the carburetor.

It-operates as the result of the inertia of an 4 element in conjunction with other structural features which are responsive to the vibrations of the engine or some other part of the motor vehicle. It is particularly desirable in that it comprises a self-contained structure, in that the pump casing also embodies a fuel chamber. It is further im ortant in that the filling of this fuel cham er by the 5 pumping action to a-predetermined degree will automatically prevent furtherv vibration of the parts in relation to the inertia element and will thereby automatically stop further pumping action.

Another important feature of my invention consists in the fact that I utilize a bellows which is of a structure, which, in itself, is long and, therefore uite flexible. Another important aspect of t e device consists in the fact that I have eliminated all danger of my pump becoming inoperative due to the accumulation of air within the bellows because I have provided adiaphragm that will automatical y clear itself of air. This is important, due to-th fact that, if even a small air bubble is retained, it will by expanding and contracting with differences of pressure, ab-

sorb the small displacement of the liquid at each movement of the inertia element and the device will cease to function.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings ,wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts and wherein The figure is'a' sectional view of my device illustrating the internal structure thereof and showing the connections leading from the main tank andto the carbureter.

In the drawings, my device is shown mounted upon a supporting bracket 1. This supporting bracket is preferably mounted upon the engine where it will be subjected to the vibrations thereof or it may be mounted upon the automobile at some other locatiorrwhere it will receive the necessary vibrations. This 1926. Serial no. "119,123.

bracket 1 carries an outer casing 2 provided with an outlet mosphere.

Mounted within the casing 2, I have provided a heavy mass 6 which is referably of 55 metal. This mass 6 is attached to a flexible tube or bellows 5. This bellows 5 is preferably connected at its upper end by soldering or otherwise to a cap 7 for the casing 2. This cap 7 is held in place by screws 8.

The cap 7 contains an inlet duct 9 which is in communication with an inlet pipe 10 under the control of a ball or other type of check valve 11 normally held in position to close the inlet pipe by means of a sprin 12.

The cap 7 is also provide with an outlet duct 13-under the control of a one-wa valve 14. This valve 14 normally; verns t e outflow of fuel from the interior of the diaphragm 5. It is maintained in seated osition by means of a spring 15 located in a 0 amber 16 concentric with and immediatelymbove the valve 14.

This chamber 16 is in communication at its lower end with the duct 13 and at its upper end it is in communication with a priming cup 17 and also through duct 30 with the interior of the casing 2, this interior of the casing 2 a being 'open to the atmosphere by means of the vent 4. Theheavy mass 6 is connected pipe 3 and a vent '4 to the atto a late 18 which closes the lower end ofthe diap ragm 5 and any up and down movement of this heavy mass 6 serves to actuate the flexible tube? as a bellows.

The heavy mass 6 is provided on its lower 86 side with a central bore 19 and this central bore 19 contains a spring 20. which bears at its upper end against the inner end of the bore 19 and which is supported at its lower end upon the base of the casing 2. 90

The spring 20 in turn embr ces at its lower end an upstanding guide tn e 22 which is preferably formed integral with the base of the casing 2. This upstanding tube 22 is provided adjacent its base with an opening an 23 which permits access of the fuel to the interior thereof. Leading out of the base of the tube 22 is the outlet pipe 3 which leads to the carbureter.

The heavy mass 6 is provided at its upper end with a packing cup'24. This packing cup is shown mounted on the mass by interposingit between the upper surface of this massand the plate 18, the plate, the mass and the packing cup being secured together by a bolt 25.

In operation, the jolting of the supporting bracket 1 will result in a motion relative to the mass of heavy metal 6. .This will cause the flexible tube 5 to act as a bellows with the result that fuel and air will be sucked in through the inlet pipe 10 and ast the valve ll'into the interior of the flexi le tube as the bellows is extended and discharged through 13, 14 and 30 as the bellows is compressed. This Ifuel will accumulate within the flexible tub and, under the influence of continued extension and collapse of the flexible tube, the fuel will be forced out past the valve 13 and through the opening 14 into the main chamber of the casing 2. This fuel will find its way down past the packing cup 20 and through the opening 23 in the upstanding tube 22 whence it will pass to the carbureter. If the fuel which passes below the packing cup 24 accumulates to the point where it reaches this packing cup. this structure will thereupon act as a dash-pot and prevent further. pumping action until more fuel is needed. It will be understood that the priming cup 17 is only used to supply a quantity of fuel to the bowl of the carbureter when this bowl is completely empty, or for priming the system.

It will be seen that Lhave provided a device of this type which has numerous important advantages. Among these advantages is that which arises from the use of a bellows. Owing to its length and flexibility, this bellows will produce a much moreextensive and effective pumping action than a disk diaphragm.

It'is likewise important to notice thatI have provided a local 001 chamber which receives the fuel direct y from the bellows pump and which, being open to the atmosphere, permits this pump to relieve itself of any air bubbles that would otherwise serve to interfere with the .efiectual operation of thedevice. A

Another important feature of my device resides in the fact that my local pool chamber and my vibratable element are all selfcontained, one being. within the other, while the local pool chamber is so related to the lvibratable element as to location and structure that it will automatically discontinue operations upon the accumulation of a predetermined amount of fuel.

Having thus described my invention, what a I claim is:

1. A means for elevating fuel from the main tank of a motor vehicle to the carburetor thereof comprising a tank, a bellows member, a member suspended from said bellows and movable in response to vibration of the tank to operate said bellows, a means on said member having such contact with the walls of said tank as to permit passage of the fuel downwardly past said means into a storage chamber formed thereby and as to prevent return of said fuel, and means for admitting the fuel into said bellows member and then discharging it from said bellows member into said supplementary tank in response to the vibratlon of said bellows.

2. A means for elevating fuel from the main tank of a motor vehicle to the carburetorythereof comprising a tank, a bellows member, a member suspended from said bellows and movable in response to vibration of the tank to operate said bellows, a means on said memberhaving'such contact with the walls ofsaid tank as to permit passage of the fuel downwardly past said means into a storage chamber formed thereby and as to prevent return of said fuel, a substantial clearance being otherwise formed around said member below said means, and means for admitting fuel into said bellows member and then discharging it from said bellows member into said supplementary tank in response to the vibration of said bellows.

3. A means for elevating fuel from the main tank of a motor vehicle to the carbureter thereof comprising a storage receptacle, an element in said storage receptacle operable by vibration, a bellows within said storage receptacle operated by the vibration of said last named element, ah inlet to said 100 bellows, an outlet from said bellows to said receptacle, and means lpermitting flow of fuel past said vibratory e ement and preventing the return flow thereof.

In testimony whereof I hereby a'flix my 105 

